In a Survey USA Governor's Ratings poll released on December 202005, Lynch was ranked as the most popular of all Democratic incumbents, with 69% approval versus 21% disapproval. As of February, 2008, he has an approval rating of 73%, one of the highest such ratings in the country.. As of June 20, 2008 his approval rating is 57% good or excellent and 11% poor.

In April 2006, Lynch was awarded the National Chairman of Volunteers Award for Volunteer Excellence by the American Red Cross, mainly due to his leadership during the 2005 floods.

Lynch was elected to a second two year term in a 74-26 landslide over Republican Jim Coburn. Lynch's coattails helped Democrats take over both houses of the State Legislature, and upset incumbent Congressmen Charlie Bass and Jeb Bradley. Lynch's 74 percent of the vote was the largest margin of victory ever in a New Hampshire gubernatorial race.
Lynch's poll numbers also improved following his successful reelection. His approval rating rose to 79% in November and his disapproval rating dropped to 17%. This makes him the second most popular governor in the nation behind John Hoeven

Lynch describes his first term as a period in which bipartisan unity was accomplished. With the support of Republicans, Lynch was able to to eliminate the state's budget deficit, design a plan to help small businesses with health care costs, and create new laws protecting children from predators. He lists some of the goals of his current term as raising the graduation rate and test scores, increasing the quality of education is struggling schools, making healthcare more accessible, and preserve the state's environment

Governor Lynch generally holds liberal social views but more conservative economic beliefs, as is in line with the somewhat libertarian nature of New Hampshire. He supports abortion rights and would like to make emergency contraception more accessible, favors legalizing civil unions for gay couples within his state, and supports upholding New Hampshire's current gun laws and death penalty. However, he is a strong supporter of requiring balanced budgets and is an opponent of the sales and income tax